Sweat, crowds, beer, and (sometimes) fun

Madison has absolutely no problem with its image. Googling “Madison + best place to” yields over 11 million hits, with most of them in some way lauding our city’s wonderfulness. It’s true that much of this praise is well-deserved, but it also means Madison is so great it doesn’t need the tourist traps many cities employ to rope in road-weary travelers and amuse the locals. Where’s our giant ball of twine? Would it be too much to raze one of our 172 Walgreens and put in a Wall Drug? It’s probably never going to happen, but that doesn’t mean summer in Madison doesn't offer its own pseudo-touristy events and attractions. Here’s Decider’s take on what’s actually worthwhile, and what might be a teensy bit overrated.

Dane County Farmers’ Market on the Square
When: Saturday mornings from April 18-Nov. 7
How it’s billed: “The Dane County Farmers’ Market on the Square is a Saturday and Wednesday tradition in Madison, Wisconsin. You’ll find the season’s best bounty of vegetables, flowers, and specialty products from approximately 300 vendors throughout the year. All of the agriculturally-related items are produced in Wisconsin.”
What to expect: If you don’t arrive early, prepare for a steerage-like experience and plenty of calf bruises from the roughly 30,000 shakily piloted baby carriages.
Worth checking out? Unequivocally, yes. Despite its shortfalls (and there are few), this granddaddy of all farmer’s markets is as good as it gets for buying local farm-raised deliciousness.

World’s Largest Brat Fest
When: May 22-25
How it’s billed: “The Memorial Day weekend event features volunteers attempting to set a new world record of serving 200,000 brats during the event while raising funds for more than 70 groups and charities.”
What to expect: Brat Fest has exploded in popularity and size since its early days in Metcalfe’s Sentry parking lot. Now that it seems to be less about sausages and more similar to a state fair, be prepared to find a midway filled with cheesy rides and games, and lots of over-sugared, ketchup-stained kids.
Worth checking out? If you’ve never been, or simply want to get some money to charities, yes. It’s weirdly entertaining to see thousands travel from parts unknown to line up and purchase brats for 50 percent more than the price they’d cost in a store. And as the website states, it offers 80 hours of music from bands local and otherwise.

Concerts On The Square
When: Wednesdays from June 24-July 29
How it’s billed: For the past 25 years, this event has been so popular there’s little to no promotional copy to be found anywhere. Most simply, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performs six weeknight outdoor concerts on the Capitol Square.
What to expect: Folks start setting up place-saving blankets four hours before the show, and later, seemingly everyone in Madison settles in around the capitol for a night of drinking, picnicking, and mostly ignoring the music.
Worth checking out? Yes. Madison has at times struggled to support the fine arts, so this unique event is an excellent introduction to the symphony in a casual, non-stuffy atmosphere.

Art Fair On The Square
When: July 11-12
How it’s billed: “Located around Madison’s beautiful Capitol Concourse, Art Fair on the Square is a popular summer tradition that regularly attracts more than 200,000 enthusiastic fairgoers and is rated among the top fine-art fairs in the country.”
What to expect: Doodads, crafty-type stuff, high prices, big crowds, some art, and face-melting heat and humidity.
Worth checking out? It depends. If you like the kind of things listed above, then yes. Otherwise, there are tons of worthy galleries in Madison that deserve year-round patronage and involve only a fraction of the hassle.

Maxwell Street Days
When: July 17-19
How it’s billed: “More than 100 shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants—many locally owned—offer terrific bargains on clothing, jewelry, gifts, artwork, food, drink and more in this festive, family-friendly event.”
What to expect: There are indeed bargains to be had, but they just aren’t that easy to find when digging through the mountains of detritus and overruns that didn’t sell during the other 362 days of the year.
Worth checking out? Yes, reluctantly. A packed State Street in the summer is cool no matter what the circumstances.

Rhythm & Booms
When: June 27
How it’s billed: “Rhythm & Booms is Madison, Wisconsin's premier Independence Day Celebration and fireworks display. As the 'largest fireworks display in the Midwest,' it easily surpasses other fireworks events in Chicago, Minneapolis and Milwaukee because of the length of the show (approximately 35 minutes), the number of shells fired (15,000) during the show, and the size of its annual budget. It is the largest single-day event in Wisconsin.”
What to expect: Roughly 300,000 people show up, meaning a population bigger than the size of Madison squeezes into Warner Park, which is only accessible from Northport Road and Sherman Avenue. It’s definitely the place to be for people who enjoy living, breathing logjams complete with carnival games, bingo tents, and oldies music.
Worth checking out: Not unless you’re one of the lucky few who has the opportunity to watch the fireworks—which are pretty cool—from a boat on Lake Mendota.

Taste Of Madison
When: Sept. 5-6
How it’s billed: “Held each year over Labor Day weekend, the event showcases more than 65 local restaurants, 20 beverage stands and four entertainment stages. The participating restaurants sell a vast variety of both unique and traditional dishes to the estimated 150,000 attendees over the two-day period.”
What to expect: You’ll find basically the same stuff you eat at Madison’s fine restaurants every other day, only here you’ll be shoveling it in while standing up holding a paper plate and plastic utensils. There are always some nice surprises, but there’s also a whole lot of flan from Pedro’s, and bacon and cheese fries from Steak Escape.
Worth checking out? Only if you’re already downtown.

Memorial Union Terrace
When: Late April to late September
How it’s billed: “Famous for its vibrant atmosphere and sunburst chairs, the Memorial Union Terrace on Lake Mendota is the popular gathering place for the campus. It’s almost impossible to find a student, graduate or community member without a fond Terrace memory that includes tasty food, lively music, outdoor adventures and a chance encounter with an old friend or new love.” 
What to expect: If the terrace hasn't already been named the No. 1 place in the country to have a beer, then it should. It’s a combination of lake views and breezes, live music, beer, Babcock ice cream, and folks from all walks of life doing everything from dealing cards to playing quarters. That’s all good stuff no matter how you cut it.
Worth checking out? Yes, and often.